Door holder



Dec. 26, 1950 B. s. BERNHARD 2,535,981

DOOR HOLDER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY-5.

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 noon HOLDER Benjamin S. Bernhard, New Britain, Conn, as-

signor to The American Hardware Corporation, New Britain, Conm, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 12,1946, Serial'No.G40,706 r g 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-277) My invention relates to a door holder, particularly though not exclusively arranged as a socalled surface door holder.

Door holders include, in general, a track and a side, usually carried by the door, and an arm connected at one end to the slide and at the other end to a door lintel. The slide and track are provided with cooperating means for latching the slide in at least one position, whereby the doorwill be held in desired open or ajar position.

' It is an objectof the invention to provide an improved form of door holder.

It is another object to provide a door holder having an improved means for varying the degree of latching function of the holder.

Another object is to provide a door holder having improved means for rendering the latching function thereof inoperative.

It is another object to provide a door holder in which the movable parts of the latching means are carried by the slide rather than by the track.

Briefly stated, my invention in the preferred form includes a track with a slide slidable thereon. An arm is connected at one end to the slide. The door holder and arm are connected to a door lintel and to a door, and usually the track will be connected to the door.

In the specific form to be later described; the door holder is of the so-called surface type fitting the side of the door, rather than being mortised into the top of the door. provided so as to latch the slide relatively to the track, whereby the door is held in desired open position. There are certain advantages in having a fixed latching abutment on the track and a movable latch carried by the slide, and such is the preferred form of the invention. However, in certain broader aspects of the invention the latching mechanism may be reversed. In complete form the invention includes means for vary ing the latching function of the door holder and also means for rendering the latching mechanism inoperative.

In the drawings which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a door and lintel showing my improved surface door holder in place;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing the latching parts in latched pos'ition;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the slide in. a difierent position and the latching mechanism in unlatched position;

Latching means are Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the latch on the slide moved to inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the door holder, illuistrating various parts in separated positions; an

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail showing the connection of the arm to the door lintel.

The door holder comprises, generally, a track 5 and a, slide 6 slidably mounted thereon. An arm. 1 is pivotally connected to the slide. The door holderparts are connected to a door 8 and to the door'lintel 9. Inthe form shown, one end of the arm is pivoted to the lintel, while the track is carried by the door. In the preferred form illustrated, the track is in the form of a bar, preferably of metal, and of generally I-beam cross section. One base or flange ll] of the I-beam track is secured to theface of the door as by means of screws II-||. The web l2 of the I- beam extends out horizontally from the door, and the other flange l3 of the I-beam section extends vertically and is spaced from the door. If desired, end finishing pieces or cups [4 may be con-' The slide 6 in the preferred form is of U-shape or channel cross-section, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 6. The slide preferably comprises the connecting web I! and the inwardly directed legs |8--l8 extending over the outer flange I3 of the track. If desired, the slide may have trackengaging flanges 19 for coaction with the flanges l3,to give stability and free-running action to the slide. The arm I is pivotally connected to the slide, as by means of a fastening screw 20, while the opposite end of the arm 1 is pivotally connected to a plate 2| secured to the door lintel. Thus, as the door is opened and closed, the slide moves back and forth on the track. Since the purpose of the door holder is to hold a door in open position, I provide latching means for latching the slide at at least one position on the track so that when the latching mechanism is engaged, the door will be held in desired position.

The latching mechanism preferably comprises a latch abutment and a movable latch. One of with an easy cam surface 23 and at the opposite side with a harsher latching surface 24. The latch 25'for coaction with the latching abutment 22 moves with the slide and may be carried in a separate unit attached to the slide.

In the form shown, I employ a plate 26, which may be fastened to the.;=underside*of7the slide as. by means of screws 21-27. The'plate may have a sleeve projection 28 which'passes through and fits in an aperture 29 through the bottom leg or"? the slide. The sleeve may project downwardly, at 30. The latch 25 is of a size to fit within the sleeve 28 and is provided with aereduced-ltafl 31;: which passes down through; an; aperture:- in: the: cup bottom of the lower sleeve- Theguide bore for the latch 25 in the sleeves may be considered as a counterbore, andla'spring:32.-fits..be tween the bottom of the counterbore and a: shoulder beneath the latch head 25 so as' to -cona tinually urge the latchrupwardly in position to coactfwiththe:latch1abutment=23i In the preferredform, Iprovide means for mov ing; the: latch. to inoperative; position: Such means: preferably; includes: cam: and. follower mechanism for manual actuation: In. the form illustrated, the :tail '3 I of therlatch' extends-down wardly, and a cam follower in the form of a cross pinw33passes. transversely through-the tail of the latch and is heldin-axcuprsleeveefl extending up over 'the sle.eve=3fll Theqlower endeof the sleeve 30,: is provided with; opposed: cam; slots... 35l-for; re: ceiving therpinGS, whereby; when thepinz33 is. in 1521838101381- 35, the; latch on will beproj ectedupwardlyinto; operative-positionby-means of thez springit 2.. Thisiszthe;lnormalilatching position; Whentit is-v desired-to withdrawthe'latch-lfrom-P latching posittion .1 so as; to: render the latching mechanism. in operative-,,.the: s1eeve534 carrying the pin Earls rotatedi as: bymeans; of; thezfinger-piece 3 5; The pinv 3.3 then rides up'o on; the sides oithe cam grooves 35 and thus the latch:zfivislwithdrawnlto. inoperative. position. Detent: grooves 37!: may beprovided. in .the-sleeveaBfl for retaininglthe .pin and; so; asito prevent] accidental rotation: of; the; sleeve 34;.

In; the. preferred. form; If also provide: means for adjusting; the. latching: mechanism so. asto thmlatc'hing eiTectothereiofQ In the, form. illustrated L employ; avsleeve- 38; which; may be.v threaded interiorly of" the, cup-sleeve; 34 and; is preferably: arranged for. tight; frictionaL. engage-- ment; therewith. Such: frictional: engagements may: be induced as. by splitting; the.-. sleeve; 38 i as: snownat 39, and spreading the sleeve parts so as" increase the. friction. Thesleeve- 38 may be provided-with: a knurled finger-flangeflso that itimaybe rotatedby handi. Thefsleevel38 which is thus carriedby-the cupsleeve 34,.abutsagainstthe underside of the plate 26,.or. an abutment surface- 41 thereon, so. as to limit the. upward movement of theentire latch assembly. under the influence of the spring32.

It will be clear that when; the sleeve 38 is rotated: as by means of the: finger flange 48, the cup sleeve; 34, together. with. the latch 25,, will be; moved upwardly or downwardl'y,,depending upon; the direotiom of rotation; of: the. sleeve. 38.

Thus, when the latch 25 is moved downwardly, the extent of engagement between the latch and the latch abutment will be slight and the door will be held lightly. At the same time, the force required for latching engagement will be light. On the other hand, when the latch 25 is in its maximum projected position; the latching efiect willbe atthe max-imum and thegreatest'force will be required for engaging the latching parts.

It will be seen that I have provided a sturdy, simpleform of door holder, which is easy to apply andwithout marring the door. It will further be seenlthat. I1 have: provided improved means for varying: the'. degreeof latching engagement for holding; tliesdoorrin open position. Simple and efiective means; have also been provided for readily rendering; the latching mechanism inoperative;

In; the preferred form, the adjusting mechanism and the means for rendering the latching mechanism inoperative are: carriedii, by: the slide rather thanby; the track and: may be; assembled: and disassembled without: imanywisadisturbing, the; track;. in fact, the: entire slide? 3116.38550- ciated" mechanism may bezreadilyj slid iofi the end: or. the trackr when one of f thefinish cups; (when: they'areremployed) is removed;

While theeinvention hasi-beenzidescrib ECIFiIPOOnE- Y siderable: detail? and aiprefoerretlz form a illustratedi w it is to; be: understood; that; various? changes; and. modifications? may; be; made; within-l the: scope; of the invention. as defincdiinthezappendei claims;

Iiclaimt.

In. a door: holder; a track, slides slidable: thereon, anarm connectedvtmsaidgslide;latching; meansaibetween said-slide andztrackzmsaid latching. means comprising, av latching; abutment: and as latch for cooperationztherewithl saidslatch'including; a tail; iazmanually actuableecupv-foractuating said tail,., spring, means? and" camranda-iollower: means for moving said; latch: betweem operative and; inoperative positions upelnL actuation of said' cup and; means for adjusting said. latch; to vary the-latching efiect. thereofj andginclnding a; sleeve.

:- threadedinto;saidcup;andaccessibleiformanuals actuation, said sleeve; including; means: for'tight; frictional engagement, with@ said; cup, whereby; a selected,' operative: position: oi said-1 latch may; be tightly held.

BENJAMIN S. BERNHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The: following references, are; of record: in; the file of this patenti:

UNITED STATES" PATENTS Number Name; Date:

953,662- Hanson- Mar..r29, 19.101 1,728,693 Moore et al. sept'. 17,1929 1,966,205 Johnson July, 10,- 1934; 2,168,453. Sibley: .Aug. 8; 1939: 2,268,977 Westrope .Jan. 6,1942;

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1151422 Australia. July 9; 1942- 

